C20110705 July 5, 2011
The Board of County Commissioners met in regular session at 9:00 am with all members and the County Clerk present.
The monthly department head meeting was held with the following in attendance: DeDe Lane, Purchasing Agent, Kristy Frazee, Health Department Administrator; Tom Fuhrmann, County Appraiser; Jerry Jo Deckert, EMS Director; Randy McCauley, Road Department Administrator; Rita Gee, Treasurer; Mary K. Sullivan, Register of Deeds; John Crosby, Fire Chief; Richard Banes, City/County Inspector; JD Neufeld, Civic Center Manager; Don Button, Emergency Management Coordinator; and Lance Babcock, Sheriff. Pastor Warren Baldwin led with the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Marty Long made the motion to approve the minutes of the regular June 14 meeting, along with the claims against the various funds of the county. Carl Higgs seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Carl Higgs made the motion to re-appoint Mary Cott to the Southwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging Sub-Regional Council. Marty Long seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Don Button, Emergency Management Coordinator and Vivian Button, Secretary, reported Allied Technical Consultants, Inc. met with them and reviewed the GIS system and the 911 updates. Allied also requested a meeting with the commissioners to go over county needs and where the county was headed with the GIS system, the meeting was scheduled for July 27th at 10:00 am.
Holly Mathes, Library Director; and Gloria Battin, Thelma Bortz, and Warren Baldwin, Board of Trustees Members, presented their 2012 appropriation request of $455,358.51 for operating expenses and $118,415.45 for employee benefits.
Ginger Anthony, Museum Curator, presented their budget request of $142,000. Ms. Anthony reported the museum may not meet needs and be forced to use memorials to finish this year due to the budget cut they received last year. The commissioners will take her concerns into consideration during the budget process.
Lance Babcock, Sheriff, presented his 2012 budget request of $1,040,924. Sheriff Babcock explained prisoner medical expenses are up and the increased fuel prices were going to make the Sheriff?s budget very hard to meet this year. Commissioner Long asked for suggestions on how to reduce the cost of JCAP?s. Sheriff Babcock would like to start a program to monitor juveniles' locally by having them serve in house arrest. The program would save the daily cost of housing them in the detention center. Law Enforcement would only use the detention center if the in house arrest was violated. The commissioners asked Sheriff Babcock to check into the program and report back to them.
Scott Nichols, Grant County Recreation Director reported the brass plates on the memorial benches are fading and he plans to start using name pavers for memorial donations instead. Mr. Nichols also reported the recreation 2012 budget request was going to be the same as last year.
Henry Helmke, SKADAF, presented a request of $7,000 for his 2012 budget. Mr. Helmke reported the request is higher this year due to increased usage by Grant County residents.
Carl Higgs made the motion to recess into executive session for 10 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel. Marty Long seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. After 10 minutes the commissioners' recessed again for lunch at Park View Assisted Living with the Hospital Board of Trustees. General discussion was held.
Art Frable, Hospital Administrator, and Board of Trustee Member, David Higgs, presented their 2012 appropriation request of $1,049,844.
The Legacy @ Park View Board of Trustees, Larry Kepley, Larry Gustafson, Larry Rumburg, George Bushnell, and Greg Davis; and Administrator, Nancy Conyac, presented their 2012 appropriation request of $1,021,824 for the Care Home and $88,422 for the Assisted Living. Kristy Frazee attended this portion of the meeting. Commissioner Long asked the board if they still needed the services of a financial advisor. It was the consensus of the Board of Trustees to continue consulting with Doug Yoder for financial advice.
O. LaVonne Michael, Board on Aging Director; Mary Cott, Betty Burns, Charles Hacker, Ronnie Young, Board on Aging Members; and Bill Stewart, Board Advisor presented their 2012 budget request of $443,151.
David Black, County Attorney, presented documents for the commissioners approval to advertise and sale by method of sealed bid, the county owned house located at 315 N. Main. The commissioners discussed allowing Ted Maple, DDS, to purchase two lots adjacent to his property. It was the consensus of the commissioners to allow the sale of the two lots.
Larry Kepley, local citizen, met with commissioners to encourage the county to return to the weather modification program. Mr. Kepley provided statistics on the success of the program and requested the county opt in and pay the $19,000 for participation. The commissioners will take Larry's request under advisement.
Randy McCauley, Road and Bridge Administrator, presented a road crossing permit, which was reviewed and approved by the commissioners. Mr. McCauley also presented his 2012 budget request of $3,000,645 for the Road and Bridge Department and $207,400 for the Noxious Weed Department. Randy asked for permission to solicit bids for asphalt and requested commissioners consider letting the Road & Bridge make their own asphalt as Stanton County does. He also requested approval to dispose of some junked equipment and a 1996 mower by sealed bid. Commissioner McHenry asked that a list of the items be provided to the commissioners. Mr. McCauley asked to solicit bids for a new mower. Approval was given to solicit bids for the new mower. The last item for discussion, the Road & Bridge Department has started repairing the EMS and Museum parking lots with millings.
The commissioners adjourned at 2:45 pm. The commissioners will meet again as the Board of Canvasses on Friday, July 15, 2011 at 9:00 am.
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Sheila Brown, County Clerk Linda McHenry, Chairman